COLUMN: Shout outs to area hoops aides

Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 04:44 PM.

At New Bern, there isn’t a dominant guy, but there are several quality players.

Miller Mills, Theron Noble, Collin Jacobs and Chris Mimms are all averaging in the vicinity of 10 points per game, with Mills a shade over 10 and the rest a hair under.

Mimms is a tough, bulldog point guard to go with athletic swingmen Mills and Noble and the big guy Jacobs inside.

New Bern’s girls have J.J. Jones, an electric, playmaking point guard, leading the way averaging double-figures, as well as some tenacious rebounders in Tomisha Davis and Brianna Coor.

Freshman Teana Lewis has been rock solid for the Bears and will be one to watch in the future.

In Vanceboro, there is the obvious, aforementioned dynamic duo of Cuthbertson and Cherry — but that’s not all.

Boys’ coach Bryan Goehring has two of the most lethal perimeter shooters in the area in Anthony Oates and Demetres Abrams, as well as extremely athletically gifted big man Tyrone Brown and speedy guard Alkeim Harley.

Prior to my first season of covering prep basketball in Craven County, I had heard about the obvious Division-I level stars like Jamie Cherry and Josh Cuthbertson of West Craven, but other than that, I didn’t really know what to expect.

Needless to say, I have been impressed with the depth of talent we have in our area.

I come from a basketball background and hotbed on the outskirts of Charlotte, and have covered some truly great high school players during my short career.

Last year this time, I was sitting at the Moir Classic, one of the better holiday tournaments in North Carolina, watching 4A power Davie County battle 1A power North Rowan in the championship game — the most competitive, and one of the best prep games I’ve ever worked.

I wanted to write this column about kids in our area to give recognition or “shout outs” to all of the players that have earned it and really impressed me so far from each team.

At New Bern, there isn’t a dominant guy, but there are several quality players.

Miller Mills, Theron Noble, Collin Jacobs and Chris Mimms are all averaging in the vicinity of 10 points per game, with Mills a shade over 10 and the rest a hair under.

Mimms is a tough, bulldog point guard to go with athletic swingmen Mills and Noble and the big guy Jacobs inside.

New Bern’s girls have J.J. Jones, an electric, playmaking point guard, leading the way averaging double-figures, as well as some tenacious rebounders in Tomisha Davis and Brianna Coor.

Freshman Teana Lewis has been rock solid for the Bears and will be one to watch in the future.

In Vanceboro, there is the obvious, aforementioned dynamic duo of Cuthbertson and Cherry — but that’s not all.

Boys’ coach Bryan Goehring has two of the most lethal perimeter shooters in the area in Anthony Oates and Demetres Abrams, as well as extremely athletically gifted big man Tyrone Brown and speedy guard Alkeim Harley.

Cherry has received a lot of improved scoring help from her friends, in person of Jasmine Raynor, Nishedra Brown, Kaylee Koerperich and Nyeesha Roundtree.

For the Pamlico Hurricanes, Jermicus Brown has been the star, averaging a shade under 15 points per game for coach Earl Sadler.

Josiah Simmons is averaging double digits, point guard Cameron Moore is one of the purest passers in the area and Bradley Bennett is a threat from beyond the arc.

Coach April Rose’s Pamlico girls are led by lightning quick point guard Brianna Jones and lengthy and talented forward Alazia Whitfield.

Chiseled freshman Laichelle Sparrow is coming into her own and will be a centerpiece for years to come.